HAGERSVILLE—A proposed 104-unit townhouse complex in Hagersville was met with opposition at a Council-in-Committee meeting on May 20, 2025.
The proposed complex would be located at 139-143 King St. W. and would consist of 18 groups of connected townhouses with access via a private road off King St. It would include two parking spaces per unit as well as 27 visitor spaces. A rezoning of the lands to a site specific ‘Urban Residential Type 4’ is needed to permit the medium density housing.
Currently, there are two vacant homes on the land and a small, wooded area that would be removed. The development will sit to the south of the future Crystal Lake and Sandusk Subdivision developments, which will surround Hagersville’s quarry lands when complete.
“Lot grading and drainage plans will be required,” said Senior Planner Mark Andrews, noting that a submitted traffic impact study would also require peer evaluation.
The development would fall just outside of Hagersville’s downtown intensification area, zoned for higher density and a mix of uses.
“It’s a busy traffic area, I agree, but in terms of our Official Policy, it would just be outside of that,” said Andrews. The ‘stable residential area’ it sits in also allows for intensification projects, but they must consider the plan’s overall fit, such as building heights, screening, privacy, and landscaping.
Councillor Brad Adams asked about the timeline of the proposal, noting that he heard during campaigning the current development level “is too much, too fast”.
He added, “I think a lot of it comes from perception because of traffic management. I was just there the other day at the four corners of Main and King. I could look around and see 13 transport trucks from where I was sitting that really congest the street.”
He advocated to improve infrastructure first, such as a bypass around Hagersville, and only then can he “see realistically that these are good ideas.”
Andrews iterated that the traffic study would be reviewed to ensure adequate capacity. Adams argued that traffic studies might “tell you that it’s okay” while the community disagrees.
Engineering and Capital Works Manager Tyson Haedrich said the proposal was known to staff when they completed the Hagersville Master Servicing Plan last year. He said that at some point in the future Hagersville will require additional wastewater servicing capacity, but the proposed development is within the existing capacity.
Councillor Dan Lawrence asked if the streets in the development would be wide enough to accommodate extra parking, should it be required.
Manager of Planning Shannon VanDalen noted “the entire block would be a private property, so the streets wouldn’t be designed to the same width, any of the enforcement side of things or parking would be up to the condo block (and) there wouldn’t be the same opportunity for on-street parking.”
A representative of the proponent noted that the change from 115 to 104 townhouses was the result of resident feedback, but 10 residents still attended the May 20 meeting to express displeasure with the proposal. The County also received one letter of objection from a neighbouring property owner.
Complaints focused on current high traffic levels and a general dislike of the plan, with one resident calling it a “complete invasion.” The staff report noted that Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation are “deeply concerned that we have missed out on documenting potential findings from this site” through two phases of archaeological assessment in which they were not “fully engaged by the proponent,” noting they “cannot support this application until we have further dialogue with the landowner.”
Manager of Community and Development Services Mike Evers said that the proposal is “really driven by provincial policy” that “has become ever more pronounced with the 10-plus bills the Province has put forward with a greater emphasis on variety of housing.”
Lawerence asked, “We almost have to accept this, because correct me if I’m wrong, if it checks all the boxes … (and) we go to the OLT, it’s just going to be put down our throats, correct?”
“Correct,” said VanDalen.
Evers noted that while the County may not be able to stop the development from proceeding, they can exert influence through their official plan on the design.
“This is not a final version. We’ll continue to work at it to get it to a point where we also as staff can satisfy ourselves this is technically sound,” said Evers.
Council accepted the information report unanimously. Haldimand will return with a list of recommendations related to the development at a future Council meeting.
